Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 16, 2025
Studying Left Ventricular Reverse Remodeling by Aortic Debanding in Rodents
Published on: July 14, 2021
Left Cardiac Remodelling Assessed by Echocardiography Is Associated with Rho-Kinase Activation in Long-Distance
Felipe Contreras-Briceño1,2,3, Julián Vega1, Jorge Mandiola1
1Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Sergio Livingstone #1007, Santiago 8380492, Chile.
Insights
Marathon training increases Rho-kinase (ROCK) activity and cardiac remodeling in long-distance runners. Higher training loads correlate with elevated ROCK levels and changes in left ventricular mass index and left atrial volume index.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Exercise Science
- Biomarker Research
Background:
- Competitive long-distance running (LDR) induces cardiovascular adaptations.
- Rho-kinase (ROCK) signaling plays a role in cardiac remodeling.
- The association between ROCK activity and exercise-induced cardiac changes in LDRs is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate Rho-kinase (ROCK) as a biomarker for cardiovascular remodeling in male long-distance runners (LDRs) undergoing marathon training.
- To compare ROCK activity and echocardiographic parameters between high-training (HT) and low-training (LT) LDRs and a control group (CTR).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 36 healthy male LDRs and 21 healthy nonactive controls.
- LDRs were categorized into HT (≥100 km/week) and LT (70–99 km/week) groups.
- Transthoracic echocardiography assessed cardiac structure, and ROCK activity in circulating leukocytes was measured at rest.
Main Results:
- The HT group exhibited significantly higher left ventricular mass index (LVMi) and left atrial volume index (LAVi) compared to LT and CTR groups.
- LDRs, particularly the HT group, showed markedly elevated ROCK activity levels compared to the CTR group.
- A strong positive correlation was observed between ROCK activity and LVMi (r=0.83) and LAVi (r=0.70) in LDRs.
Conclusions:
- Marathon training is associated with increased Rho-kinase (ROCK) activity in competitive male long-distance runners.
- Elevated ROCK activity correlates with left cardiac remodeling, as assessed by echocardiography, in these athletes.
- ROCK may serve as a potential biomarker for exercise-induced cardiovascular adaptations in LDRs.
Abstract:
This single-blind and cross-sectional study evaluated the role of Rho-kinase (ROCK) as a biomarker of the cardiovascular remodelling process assessed by echocardiography in competitive long-distance runners (LDRs) during the training period before a marathon race. Thirty-six healthy male LDRs (37.0 ± 5.3 years; 174.0 ± 7.0 height; BMI: 23.8 ± 2.8; V˙ O2-peak: 56.5 ± 7.3 mL·kg-1·min-1) were separated into two groups according to previous training level: high-training (HT, n = 16) ≥ 100 km·week-1 and low-training (LT, n = 20) ≥ 70 and < 100 km·week-1. Also, twenty-one healthy nonactive subjects were included as a control group (CTR). A transthoracic echocardiography was performed and ROCK activity levels in circulating leukocytes were measured at rest (48 h without exercising) the week before the race. The HT group showed a higher left ventricular mass index (LVMi) and left atrial volume index (LAVi) than other groups (p < 0.05, for both); also, higher levels of ROCK activity were found in LDRs (HT = 6.17 ± 1.41 vs. CTR = 1.64 ± 0.66 (p < 0.01); vs. LT = 2.74 ± 0.84; (p < 0.05)). In LDRs a direct correlation between ROCK activity levels and LVMi (r = 0.83; p < 0.001), and LAVi (r = 0.70; p < 0.001) were found. In conclusion, in male competitive long-distance runners, the load of exercise implicated in marathon training is associated with ROCK activity levels and the left cardiac remodelling process assessed by echocardiography.
More Related Videos
09:05Assessment of Cardiac Morphological and Functional Changes in Mouse Model of Transverse Aortic Constriction by Echocardiographic Imaging
Published on: June 21, 2016
12:45Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in an Asynchronous Heart Failure Model Induced by Left Bundle Branch Ablation and Rapid Pacing
Published on: December 11, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:29Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
01:29Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy